Epidermal deletion of HIF-2α stimulates wound closure

J Invest Dermatol. 2014 Mar;134(3):801-808. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.395. Epub 2013 Sep 13.

Abstract

Wound closure requires a complex series of micro-environmentally influenced events. A key aspect of wound closure is the migration of keratinocytes across the open wound. It has been found previously that the response to hypoxia via the HIF-1α transcription factor is a key feature of wound closure. The need for hypoxic response is likely due to interrupted wound vasculature, as well as infection, and in this work we investigated the need for a highly related hypoxic response transcription factor, HIF-2α. This factor was deleted tissue specifically in mice, and the resulting mice were found to have an accelerated rate of wound closure. This is correlated with a reduced bacterial load and inflammatory response in these mice. This indicates that manipulating or reducing the HIF-2α response in keratinocytes could be a useful means to accelerate wound healing and tissue repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermatitis / physiopathology
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / injuries
  • Epidermis / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Keratinocytes / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / genetics
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • VHL protein, mouse